Battle of Menotomy

The Battle of Menotomy (19 April 1775) was a phase of the Battles of Lexington and Concord that occurred when the retreating 1,700-strong British column of Hugh Percy retreated along the 15-mile gauntlet to Boston, coming under Patriot fire along the way. The fighting at Menotomy was the bloodiest phase of the battle.

Following "Parker's Revenge", Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Smith's 700-strong British column, which had been fatigued after 12 hours of marching and several ambushes, met up with Hugh Percy's 1,000-strong relief column. After a few hours of rest, the British began to continue their withdrawal towards Boston, maintaining their formation while coming under withering fire from the Patriots, now under the command of William Heath. Some homeowners took up arms while using their homes as cover, and the British stormed the houses and engaged in close-quarters fighting. At the Jason Russell House, the British killed all of the armed inhabitants, and, in Russell's orchard, 11 patriot ambushers were caught by British flankers and killed, allegedly after some of them had surrendered. The British looted several taverns along the road, and they crossed the Menotomy River (now known as Alewife Brook) into Cambridge. Fresh militia arrived to attack the British, and Percy used his cannon and flankers to inflict heavy losses on the Patriots at Watson's Corner. A large militia force arrived from Salem and Marblehead to reinforce the embattled militia, but, instead of cutting off the British retreat to Charlestown, they halted on nearby Winter Hill and allowed for the British to escape.

The battles at Menotomy and Cambridge were the deadliest phases of the battles at Lexington and Concord, with 25 Patriots and 40 British Army soldiers being killed, while 9 Patriots and 80 British troops were wounded. On 20 April 1775, Artemas Ward replaced Heath as commander of the Patriot army, and the Patriots encircled Boston, beginning the Siege of Boston.